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sports Diamars 11 Januari 2022

From north to east, NFL firings begin on day after finales

(AP) - From the NFC more teasing than trium- doomed both Zimmer and New York Giants the last man said. “We obviously have
North to the AFC East, phant. Spielman. four years and to have spent not had the on-the-field suc-
the firings began almost so many years of my career cess I expected, and that is
immediately after the “We are determined to have Flores, however, didn’t ap- with this franchise,” Gettle- disappointing.”
NFL’s first 17-game season sustained success and bring pear to be in danger of losing
concluded. Vikings fans the Super Bowl his job. One of three Black
championships they expect heads coaches in the NFL,
The Vikings fired coach Mike and deserve,” owners Zygi Flores brought Miami back
Zimmer and general manag- and Mark Wilf said in their from an awful first half of
er Rick Spielman on Monday statement after letting go of the schedule, turning around
following an 8-9 season. Di- Zimmer and Spielman. from 1-7 to 9-8 — including
vision rival Chicago parted victories in the opener and
with coach Matt Nagy and Zimmer was 7-8-1 against finale against his former boss
GM Ryan Pace after going the Packers, which isn’t bad in New England.
6-11. considering how Green Bay
has performed in recent Dolphins owner Stephen
And in a relative surprise, years. It was simply not close Ross, who kept GM Chris
Miami dismissed coach Bri- to good enough in that divi- Grier, hinted at communica-
an Flores, whose Dolphins sion. tion issues.
went 9-8, including a sweep
of archrival New England. The Bears under Nagy were “I’ve been looking at this
1-7 against the Pack in the over three years now and
Indeed, the career coaching longest running rivalry in watching the organization
records for each total 130- pro football. Nagy, the 2018 grow,” Ross said. “I think an
112-1. Coach of the Year, simply was organization can only func-
following the path of his pre- tion if it’s collaborative and
Yet, while in South Florida decessors: Chicago’s past six it works well together, and
the Dolphins seemed to be head coaches have had a los- I don’t think we were really
overachievers with a modest ing record against Green Bay. working well as an organiza-
roster, both the Vikings and There also has been no evi- tion ... to win consistently at
Bears were major disappoint- dent progress at quarterback the NFL level.”
ments this season. in Chicago, and the defense
has taken a step backward. Gettleman, 70, saw the Gi-
As were the New York Gi- The 2018 Khalil Mack trade, ants go 19-46 during his ten-
ants (4-13), and general man- Pace’s biggest move with the ure and were rarely in playoff
ager Dave Gettleman retired Bears, began well and now contention in that period.
Monday, though he likely looks unproductive. New York’s offense was vir-
would have been fired other- tually invisible in 2021 even
wise. Minnesota’s talent pool though the team spent in free
seems deeper than Chica- agency for No. 1 receiver
One major problem for Min- go’s, from a high-paid quar- Kenny Golladay and tight end
nesota and Chicago resides in terback, Kirk Cousins, with Kyle Rudolph, then spent a
neighboring Wisconsin: the some success to standout first-round draft choice on
Packers. While Green Bay is runners and receivers. The wideout Kadarius Toney.
an NFL power and perennial payroll has been high, but the
championship contender, the results in 2021, and the lack “It was a privilege to serve as
Vikings and Bears have done of progress in the standings, the general manager of the

Dave Gettleman out as Giants GM, says he is retiring

(AP) — Dave Gettle- The Giants announced the dismal, injury-plagued sec- Judge’s future with the Gi- ing for a third season.
man has retired as gen- 70-year-old Gettleman re- ond season under coach Joe ants also is in question after The Giants went 19-46 dur-
eral manager of the New tired Monday, a day after Judge. the late swoon marked by in- ing Gettleman’s tenure and
York Giants after a fourth New York (4-13) dropped ept offensive performances. were rarely in playoff conten-
straight double-digit los- its season finale 22-7 to Gettleman probably would He plans to talk to team co- tion in that period.
ing season. Washington. It was the sixth have been fired had he not owners John Mara and Steve
straight loss and it ended a stepped down. Tisch this week about return- This past season was particu-
larly disappointing. The Gi-
ants came into the year with
higher expectations coming
off a 6-10 campaign that saw
them close the season with a
5-3 run to finish second in
the weak NFC East, a game
behind Washington (7-9).

The anticipation grew in the
offseason when New York
signed playmaking wide re-
ceiver Kenny Golladay, draft-
ed speedy receiver Kadarius
Toney in the first round, and
signed veteran tight end Kyle
Rudolph to help with the
blocking.

Nothing went right.